Process of treating coals and other hydrocarbonaceous substances.



J. D- SCOTT. PROCESS OF TREATING GOALS AND' OTHER HYDROGABBONAOEOUS SUBSTANCES.

APPLIGATION FILED AUG.26, 1910. 1,1 15,454. Patented 0011211914.-

6 SHEETS-SHEET l.

J. D. SCOTT.

v rnocrzss or TREATING GOALS AND OTHER aynnocmnpmcnoqs SUBSTANCES.

APPLICATION IILED AUG.26, 1910. 1,1 1 5,454. Patented 061;. 27, 1914.

I I i wbmflo z. M I (107211 Daria u Scolz.

atkvz-n eg J. n. SCOTT. PROCESS OF TREATING GOALS AND OTHER HYDROOABBONACEOUS SUBSTANCES.

APPLIGATIQN FILED AUG.26,1910. 1,1 1 5,454. Patented 0012.27, 1914.

6 SHEETS--SHEBT 3.

J. D. SCOTT. PROCESS OF TREATING GQALS AND OTHER HYDROOARBONAOEOUS SUBSTANCES.

Patented Oct. 27, 1914,

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 26, 1910. 1 ,1 1 5,454.

5] mm n for ,bimpmfia v S00, 3513 (1R5 aflou V B SHEETS-SHEET 4.

J. 1), SCOTT. PROCESS OF TREATING GOALS AND OTHER HYDROGARBONACEOUS SUBSTANCES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 26, 1910.

- Patented Oct: 27, 1914.

6 SHEBTSSHEET 5.

m John Dania 2 5 T J. D. SCOTT; v rnoofiss or TREATING GOALS AND OTHER HYDBOOABBONAGEOUS SUBSTANCES.

APPLIOATIOH IILBD AUGJW, 1910.

Patented Oct. 27, 1914;

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

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treatment of these substances the maximum.

JOHN D. SCOTT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PROCESS OF TREATING GOALS AND OTHER HYDROCARBONACEOUS SUBSTANCES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented 0 27, 1914.

Application filed August 26, 1910. Serial No. 579,020.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN D. Soon, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Treating Goals and other Hydrocarbonaceous Substances, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to process of treating coals, such for instance as cannel, bituminous and other coals having a high percentage of volatile matter, shales, lignites, and other carbonaceous substances so that a portion of their constituents may be converted into volatile hydrocarbonaceous oils, and such hydrocarbonaceous substances which yield when subjected to heat at certain temperatures vapors of heavy oils, naphthalene, benzol, sulfur and other products, and at higher temperatures yield tar, naphthalene, benzol, sulfud and other products of a more or less gaseous nature, and

the object of the invention is to provide an improved process so as to obtain by the amount of the products which are'thrown oif at the lower temperatures without dissociating the initial products or producing any, or but a minimum quantity of, gaseous products; also to prevent the destruction by combustion of the residual coke produced by the treatment of cannel and other coals;-

also to promote the rapid, continuous, uniform, and practically simultaneous treatment or eduction of the entire charge of these substances; also to extract the volatile products of'coal, shales and lignites and other hydrocarbonaceous substances by bringing into contact therewith a deoxidized gas and causin the same to pass therethrough and thus e ect a thorough extraction of those products from the substancesand greatly reduce the time required for.

educing or converting the charge into vola-v tile hydrocarbonaceous oils; also to insure an uninterrupted movement of the heat currents through and out of the eduction chamber and their thorough and intimate contact with the coal or other charge therein; also to prevent the interruption of the move-c7 ments of the heat currents and also to'promote the rapid elflux of the vapors .from the charge treating or eduction chamber and, by carrying them away from the inflowing heat as rapidly as they are thrown off, prevent the formation or dissociation of gaseousproducts.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved process by means of which the eduction chamber may be rapidly re-charged or discharged without lowering the temperature thereof to such an, extent as to prevent a rapid treatment of each subsequent char e.

A further ob ect of the invention is the provision of an improved process by means of which all of the foregoing results may be quickly and readily, and comparatively inexpensively, obtained in a thorou h and practical manner, and by means o which also'the conversion of the charge into volatile hydrocarbonaceous oils will commence at a temperature of about 250 degrees F., so that when the temperature reaches about 700 degress F. the conversion of practically all of the constituents of the charge which are capable of being converted into volatile hydrocarbonaceous oils can then be completed, and by means of which also an effective treatment of every portion of the charge is obtained,.and this without the ignition of any part of the charge.

A further object of the improvement is the provision of an improved process in which is utilized a preliminary heating chamber and a final cooling chamber so connected with the eduction chamber'that the charge may be carried from one to the other Without material" loss of heat in the ed uc-i tion chamber.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved process by means of which the heat currents will circulate around and through substantially every part of the charge.

These objects are obtained by the process described in the following specification, which maybe carried out practically by means of the apparatus shown and described in the accompanying drawm s, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective e evation of the eduction chamber, with ortions thereof broken away to more e ectively disclose the charge supporting trays andvthe means for subjecting the charge to heat; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view through the eduction chamber; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through said chamber and also illustrating portions of the preliminary or reception chamber and of the final or cooling is a Perspective view of one of the charge carrying trays, with a part of its perforated or mesh bottom broken away; Fig. 8 is'a' detail enlarged view of a portion of the carrier shown in Fig. 6 supporting one corner of one of the trays; Fig. 9 is a detailview of the means for raising and lowering the door; Figs. 10 and 11 are detail views of the means for operatin the tray carrier and maintaining the cham ers air-tight at the points where the operating means is located under the chambers. Fig. 12 is. a detail view of one of the bars which may be used for securing the side walls of the carriage or tray carrier together; Fig. 13 is a detail view of the means forpreventing a back draft between the tray carrier an the bottom of the chamber; and Fig. 14 is an enlarged view of the tray lifting crane.

Similar characters of reference indicate at corresponding parts throughout the several vlews.

In carryin out this improved process the substance to e treated, cannel coal or-shale for example, is placed in trays supported by a suitable carrier or casin open at the top and bottom, but tightly c osed at the sides, and at the ends by doors; and which carrier is inclosed in a chamber from which the air is excluded. In connection with this tray 4o carrier or casing a heat producing apparatus is employed in such a manner that the products of combustion, such ,as a deoxidized or neutral gas,produced in the present instance by gas flame will act. directly on the sides of the tray carrier and also be carried into the carrier at the top thereof and down through the charge supported by the several trays, and thus be caused to impinge upon the coal or shale in the trays by passing over and through such trays. This tray carrier or casing connects directly or indirectly. with suitable. means for either forcing'or drawing the vapors out of the casing as fast as they are, formed and through a suitable connecting pipe into a condenser. In the resent instance this means is shown as a an or exhauster. The charge of coal or shale is placed in the casing of the eduction chamber and divided into a pluralit of layers supported in such manner that t e heat currents may readily pass down through the several layers from one to another..

' In the present process the gas flame used for producing the heat is broughtin direct contact with theside walls of the tray carrier, thus doing away with the use of fires and fire chambers entirely separated from thecarrier. The temperature within'the educours, and usually varies between about 250 degrees F., at which temperature the eduction or conversion of the charge commences, and about 700 degrees F., at which temperature the complete separation of the volatile hydrocarbonaceous oils is usually obtained. When the temperature has reached about 250 degrees F., theexhauster is started and driven at such a speed as to effectively draw the deoxidized gas into the tray carrier at the top thereof and downward through the several trays and thus over and through the bodies of coal, whereby such deoxidized gas is caused to impinge upon the coal and thus convert or educe therefrom the vapors, which as they develop joinwith such heat currents and are caused to flow with them out of the eduction chamber as rapidly as they are formed, being then driven by the exhauster to a condenser, or to several thereof,where the vapors thus produced in the manner stated are condensed into heavy oils. The temperature of the products of combustion, or deoxidized gas, should be considerably below red heat to prevent the production of such gaseous products as are evolvedat high temperatures, and the effect of these relatively low temperatures is to cause vapors and sprays of the heavy oils and waxes to be drawn out of the coal or shale, which vapors are swept rapidly away from the oints where they develop and out of the edhction chamber and away from the incoming heat before dissociation can take place, by the free rapidly moving heat currents with'which they mingle.

It will be observed that in the present process the heat to which the charge is subjected is largelyv due to direct heat on the sides of the inner o-rremovable chamber or tray carrier, so that the combustion gases merely tend to sweep away the oil vapors thus formed and give a direction to the current of those oil vapors, whereas hereto-. fore the heat was solely obtained from the high temperature combustion gases. Furthermore, the zigzag passing of the heated gases in the apparatus heretofore used tended to cool those gases, so that by the time they reached the bottom trays the eduction caused by them was very imperfeet and the coke on the bottom trays was found to contain very much more volatile matter than the coke on the upper trays, but by means of the present process, whereb the deoxidized gas passes transversely through the charge, whether in the top or bottom tray, every part of the charge is completely treated, so that substantially the 130 ignite the charge. By the provision of same volatile matter is obtained from the lower trays as from the upper.

The apparatus shown herein for the treatment or eduction of the hydrocarbonaceous substances consists of an eduction'chamber 2 Fig. 3 having in front thereof and con- .hydrocarbonaceous material extracted therefrom in a more rapid manner, thus materially reducing the time necessary for carrying out this improved process. At the rear of and connected with the eduction chamber is a cooling chamber 4, Fig. 3, these chambers being separated from each other by suitable doors 5 and 6. This cooling chamber 4 permits the several operations to go on continuously without the necessity of leaving the tray carrier in the eduction chamber for the purpose of being cooled, which would of course .necessitate a gradual cooling down of the eduction chamber without the admission of any cold air, the admission of which would tend hto t 1s cooling chamber the charge can be gradually cooled without affecting the temperature in the eduction chamber, and it also prevents the ignition of the charge, which would immediately take place if the charge were brought into the open air instead of in the cooling chamber thus destroying the residual coke and seriously impairing the efiiciency of the process. By this system of chambers, it will be observed that the eduction chamber 2 is always in condition for the reception of a new carrier containing a charge of material to be treated, and in the present improvement it will also be observed that this charge, when conveyed into the eduction chamber has already been heated to a predetermined temperature, so that in consequence the time required to completely treat or educe the charge in the-eduction chamber is very much lessened, as well as better results obtained.- These chambers are preferably formed by suitable masonry or concrete, and of a suitable size to receive a considerable number of trays.

The tray carrier 7 Fig. 2 is shown herein made up of I-beams 8, the flanges of which are suitably bolted together, thus forming a pair of side walls .9 and 10, the inner flanges 11 projecting into the chamber of the carrier constituting the supports for the trays. The bottom walls of the chambers 2, 3 and 4 are provided with suitable supporting rollers 12 by means of which the carrier is readily run from'one chamber into the engage the sides,

tom,

other. The side walls of the chambers are I also provided with rollers 13 adapted to as for instance a pair of exterior flan cs 14, of the carrier, thereby to prevent si ewise lay or lateral movement of the carrier and a so to facilitate the shiftin of the carrier.

ithin the eduction chamber, and at the sides of the carrier chamber there are located gas pipes 15, one at each side of the carrier, having a series of jets such as Bunsen burners extending along the carrier throughout the length thereof adjacent to the botand'by means of which the heat for the conversion 'of the charge is obtained, the spaces between the sides of the carrier and t e inner walls of the eduction chamber constitutin flues or heat passages by means of which t e .deoxidized gas'is drawn upward and over the top of the carrier. The preliminary heating chamber is also provided with similarly arranged gas jets 15 which are, however, located at somewhat greater distances apart than are those in the eduction chamber, this for the purpose of rovid'mg a less degree of heat in the pre iminary heating chamber, so that the eduction or separation of the volatile hydrocarbonaceous material will not actually commence until the carrier has been shifted into the eduction chamber. These gas pipes are connected by suitable conduits 16 leading to a suitable source of supply.

The tray carrier is provided at each end with a door 17 hinged thereto and having a suitable catch 18 for tightly clamping it in position. The trays 19 are" preferably formed of angle iron having suitable braces 20 supporting a perforated or reticulated bottom 21, shown herein as formed of wire mesh, by means of which the heated products of combustion or deoxidized gas may be drawn not only over but downwardly through the charge carried by thetrays and thus fro-m onetray to another from top to bottom thereof. The side walls of the carrier are suitably connected together by connecting members or bars 22 detachable to permit the trays to be separated from the carrier in the manner hereinafter described.

By forming the trays in the manner shown the necessity of arranging them in a zigzag formation is obviated, with the result that instead of the heated gases becoming cool by the time they reach the bottom of the trays, as heretofore, which resulted in an imperfect eduction so that the coke on the bottom trays contained much more volatile matter than that on the 11 per trays, a much more perfect eduction 0 all of the charge is not only obtained, but a more perfect eduction of the charge on the lower trays is the re- 'sult, ractical demonstration disclosing that by this improved process a larger amount of volatile hydrocarbonaceous oils is obtained.

The doors 5 and 6, together with the door 25 closingthe front of the chamber 3, and a similar door, not shown, for closing the rear end of the chamber 4, are sliding doors mounted in suitable ways and attached to cables 27, one for each door, the manipulation of each of which cables and its door is controlled by an independent mechanism, whereby the door may be raised and lowered at the proper time. As the means for operating each of these doors is shown as the iiame, a description of one of them will suf- Supported on top of the masonry forming the several chambers is the operating mechanism for each of the doors. This consists of a grooved cable wheel or drum 28around which the door supporting cable is wound. This drum is supported on. a shaft 29 to which is also rigidlv connected a worm wheel 30 in mesh with a worm 31 carrying at its other end a bevel gear 32 in mesh with a pair of bevel gears 33 and 34 loosely mounted on a shaft 35 having at one end a driving wheel or pulley 36, which is connect ed by a suitable belt 37 with a source of power, such for instance as a motor 63.

There is a belt 37 for each of the door operating means, these belts 37 all being operated from the same source of power, which power in the present instance is transmitted through the medium of a pulley wheel 64 and belt 65 leading to a pulley mounted on one of the shafts 61 hereinafter described.

' Located between the two bevel gears 33 and 34 is a clutch mechanism 39 controlled by a suitable clutch shifter 40 connected with a suitable lever system 41 so mounted that the operating handle 42 thereof is in such position at the side'of the apparatus that it can be readily manipulated by the operator, so that on shifting the lever 42 the shiftable member 43 of the clutch mechanism, which member is splined or keyed to the shaft 35 for sliding movement and for rotation with the shaft, will be thrown into engagement with one or the other of the members of the clutch which are fixed to and rotate with the bevel gears 33 and 34,

thereby to either raise or lower the door in a manner which will be readily understood.

For the purpose of disconnecting the clutch member at the proper time, after the clutch 40 has by means of the lever 42 been shifted into connection with the bevel gear which is effective to rotate the cable drum in one direction to raise the door, a suitable automatic means for operating the clutch shifter is provided. This consists in the present instance of a sliding member or bar 44, which bar is provided with a slot 45 at one end, through which the shaft 29 passes for guiding such bar, the opposite end 46 being connected to the clutch shifter 40.

This bar carries a pair of projecting stops 47 and 48 adapted to contact with a stud or extent by manipulating the lever 42 so as to I throw the. sliding member of the clutch mechanism into position to connect up the proper bevel gear, as 34, the stop 49 comes into contact with the arm or projection 47 of the bar 44 and shifts the bar 44 in one direction and thereby operates the clutch shifter 40 to move it and the movable clutch member away from the particular fixed clutch member with which it was engaged, thus permitting the drivin mechanism to rotate without further raising of the door. When it is desired to lower the door, the lever 42 is manipulated and, through the medium of the clutch shifter 40, the sliding clutch member, which, as hereinbefore stated, is splined to the shaft 35, is shifted into engagement with the opposite bevel gear-33, whereupon the worm 1s rotated in the opposite direction and the drum rotated to lower the door. When the door has been completely lowered, the stud 49 is brought into position to contact with theprojection 48 in such position that it will automatically shift the movable member of the clutch away from the bevel gear 33 and thus disconnect the door operating means to prevent further movement of the door.

For shifting the tray carrier or carrier chamber from one of the compartments ,or chambers to the other of the eductor, suitable means is provided. In the present improvement each tray carrier is provided at its underside with a rack 50 of substantially the length of the carrier, this rack being located preferably centrally between the sides of the carrier to extend lengthwise and to project beyond one, as the front, end of the carrier. This enables the carrier to be completely shifted from one chamber into another, for until the tray carrier is shifted,

entirely into the chamber a part of the rack will remain in engagement with the gear. Located under each of the chambers 2, 3 and 4, and underthe platform in front of the pre- .liminary heating chamber 3 and at the rear of the cooling chamber, is the carrier shifting mechanism, and as they are all similar the description of one of them is deemed sufficient. Each of these mechanisms comprises a gear 52 loosely mounted on a rotating shaft 54, and projects either above its platform in the front and rear of the eductor or through a slot 52 in the bottom of the several chambers 2, 3 and4 to engage the rack 50. This slot 52' ofeach chamber is closed by the means hereinafter described so as to maintain said chamber air-ti ht. This rotating shaft 54 has a pulley whee 58 connected by a belt 59 with another pulley wheel 60 mounted on a shaft 61, on which shaft there is also mounted a belt pulley 62 connected with a suitable'source of power,

as for instance the motor 63, which con-- will engage or disengage the clutch members. When such members are engaged the gear 52 will be rotated with the shaft, and so shift the tray carrier, which when shifted into the proper position in achamber will have the forward end of its rack pass from its shifting gear 52. V

In practice, when the carrier is brought by its truck, not shown, in front of the first chamber, the lever 7 4- adj acent to that chamber is manipulated, whereupon the gear 52, in mesh with the rear end of the rack of the tray carrier, will be rotated and thereupon shift the carrier into the first chamber. Thereupon the door is lowered; When it is desired to shift this carrier in chamber 3 into the eduction chamber 2, the tray carrier in chamber 4 is first shifted by a similar rack mechanism to that just described from such chamber 4 and the rear door lowered. Thereupon the door 6 is raised and the carrier in the eduction chamber 2, with the residual coke, shifted by a rack shifting mechanism similar to that just described from the eduction chamber 2 to the cooling hand chain 88.

'- the ends of the trays.

chamber 4 and the door 6 lowered. The door 5 is then raised and the carrier in chamber 3, by its rack shifting mechanism, then shifted into the eduction chamber '2 and the door 5 lowered, whereupon another carrier, with its loaded trays, may be shifted into the chamber 3 in readiness to be conveyed into the eduction chamber in the manner just described.

Located in front and rear of the apparatus is a truck track 80 for the tray carrier truck 79, (see Fig. 4)'and to one side of the platform is a suitable crane 81 for lifting and separating the trays from the car rier. This crane runs upon a suitable track 82 and is provided with worm wheels 83 and 84 in mesh with right and left hand worms 85 carried by a shaft 86. On one end of the shaft is a sprocket or chain wheel 87 for a Carried by each of the worm wheels 83 is a depending chain 89 having hooks 90, such hook adapted to engage with projecting loops or rings 92 in When the trays have been. .tproperly loaded the crane into positionto be received by platforms in front they are carried by the tray carrier, which is mounted upon a truck movable upon the track 80. The trays being carried by the crane in the manner shown in Fig. 14, are conveyed lengthwise into the carrier above the tray supporting flanges and to permit this the detachable brace bars 22 are removed. When they are in their proper position in the carrier the chain is manipulated to slightly lower the" trays, whereupon they are brought into position to be supported upon the interior fianges 11 of the carrier, whereupon a further lowering of the chains 89 and the hooks 90 will release the trays from the crane and thereupon the crane can be removed. A similar means is provided for lifting the trays at the end of the chamber 4 for the purpose of dumping the trays with the coke 01' residual material therein.

For the purpose of shifting a carrier from the rear to the front of the apparatus,

thereby to permit the carriers to be re-used, at one side of the apparatus I have shown the platform provided with suitable rollers 95, similar rollers 96 being located in front of the first chamber 3 to facilitate the shifting of the carrier into that chamber. In practice a number of these apparatus may be provided, as shown by the dotted lines 100 in Fig. 5, which is intended to illustrate another system of chambers similar to that hereinbefore described, whereby any desired number of eductors may be in use at the same time, so that a certain quantity of material may be treated per day.

Communicating with the underside of the eduction chamber 2 is a conduit 101- which. leads to a suitable fan or exhauster 102, which may be driven from any suitable source of power, such for instance as a mo tor 103. This conduit 101 may have a drip outlet 101 emptying into'a tank. or tub 101" see Fig. 5. This fan casing communicates with suitable condensers 200.

' Since the eduction chamber, as well as the other chambers should be maintained airtight and as the rack shifting gears are always in rack engaging position and therefor project through the bottoms of the chambers, some means must be provided to close the bottom wall of each of these chambers.

Forthis purpose each of the gears 52 and its clutch (excepting of course, the gear located in front of the preliminary heating and in the rear of the cooling chamber) is located in a tightly closed casing or box 105 secured to the underside of the chamber walls, the shaft 54 and rod 73 only projecting therefrom at one side. Each of the of the preliminary heating'chamber and at the rear of the cooling chamber, as hereinbefore stated, is provided with an openin gear 52, locate respectively .at the front and rear of these chambers, but as this openchamber for the projection of the ing is outside of the chambers no box such as 105 is necessary at this point.- Otherwise the rack shifting mechanism for all three of the chambers is the same. In practice the outer, that is the front and rear, doors of the apparatus will, subsequently to each loading of the chambers in the manner hereinbefore described, be made air-tight by the use of some suitable material, such as asbestos cement. Above each of the doors 5 and 6 of the eduction chamber is located a hood 120, which is entirely closed at its top and onall sides, except the bottom, with the exception of the necessary opening for the passage of the chain or cable connected to the door. These hoods prevent the egress of the heated air from the eduction chamber as well as the ingress of cold air thereinto and permit the raising of the door the required distance to permit the shifting of the tray carrier.

By means of the present process it will be observed that a uniform temperature can be maintained throughout the height of the carrier in view of the fact that the flame from the gas jets will impinge upon the outside surfaces of the carrier at points along the lower portion of the sides thereof, thus heating the material on the trays at those points where it has heretofore been impracticable to obtain a sufiicient amount of heat to complete the eduction of the volatile matter in the lower trays. Thus, the heat which is drawn up and over the top of the carrier and down through the trays is supplemented at the lower portion of the carrier by the heat which comes in contact with the carriers at this point owing to the location of the gas jets in the manner stated, so that the material in the lower trays is as effectively treated as is the material in the upper trays.

The process above described, when applied to the treatment of coal, produces a very superior variety of coke as a result of the comparatively low temperature at which the treatment is carried on, that is below red heat or incandescence, with practically no tar or gaseous products being thrown ofl, no coking of the coal in the usual sense of that term taking place, and the residual coke differs from cokes as usually produced in its properties and approximates closely its characteristics, notably in its porosity, ease of ignition and free burning qualities.

The charge to be treated being located between the gas flames which are within the eduction chamber, and not without the same, greatly increases the rapidity and efiiciency of the process herein described, as the desired temperature within the eduction chamber is more quickly obtained, while a more uniform temperature results by reason of the fact that the heat radiates through the side walls of the carrier itself and the heat currents also pass up over the top of the side walls of the carrier and down through the trays.

In the present improvement certain gases passing to the condensers 200 are incondensable, and these may be utilized for the purpose of providing the heat in the preliminary heating and eduction chambers, by conveying such gases from the condensers to a tank 201, and connecting the gas pipes 203 with such tank and thus utilizing these incondensable' gases to supply the heat for the extraction of the volatile oils.

In practice the bottom of the eduction chamber 2 will be provided with a low wall or partition 205 to inclose the-sides of the carrier so as to prevent the heated currents from being'drawn under the carrier instead of up through the flues and down through the carrier. These walls, may have their upper edges bent over to overlap the lower outer flanges of the I-beams of the carrier.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The process of treating coals, shales, lignites and other carbonaceous substances so that a portion of their constituents may be converted into volatile hydrocarbonaceous oils, which consists in dividing a charge of the substance to be treated into relatively small bodies or layers supported in superposed perforated or open-mesh trays confined in an air-tight chamber, and subjecting the same to the action of free moving currentsfofhigh temperature inert gases forced or exhausted through the same and all the bodies or layers substantially uniformly treated, substantially as described.

2. The process of treating coals, shales,

lignites and other carbonaceous substances so that a portion of their constituents may be converted into volatile hydrocarbonaceous oils, which consists in dividing a charge of the substance to be treated into relatively small isolated bodies confined in an air-tight chamber, subjecting the same to the combined action of free moving currents of high temperature inert gases and contiguous heat, and causing said gases to flow downwardly through each of such bodies, whereby all of such bodies are substantially uniformly treated 3. The process of treating coals, shales, lignites and other carbonaceous substances so that aLportion of their constituents may be converted into volatile hydrocarbonaceous oils, which consists in dividing a charge of the substance to be treated into relatively small bodies or layers confined in an airtight chamber and causing currents of neutral gases heated to a temperature below incandescence, that is from about 250 to 700 oils I theisubstance to be treated into relatively small bodies, depositing the same in separate layers on perforated or open-mesh surfaces,

and causing neutral gases heated to a temeratnre below incandescence, that is from about 250 to 700fdegrees F., to come into effective contact with such layers and to pass through the same. 4

5. The process of treating coals, shales, lignites and other carbonaceous substances so that a portion of their constituents may be converted into volatile hydrocarbonaceous oils,

small bodies or layers and spread on a series of open bottom trays supported horizontally in an air-tight chamber with spaces therebetween, and causing rapidly moving cur-. rents of inert gasesfrom a contiguous fire but always but of contact with such bodies to come intoaeflective contact with the layers thereby to sweep the vapors as they develop "away from the material from which-they are extracted, and the heat engendered ,by the treatment thereof, and carry them directly to a condenser, substantially as described.

6. The process of treating coals, shales, lignites and other'carbonaceous substances sothat a portion of their constituents may be converted into volatile hydrocarbonaceous oils, which consists in confining a charge of the substance to be treated in a substantially air-tight chamber, and then causing currents of high temperature inert gases from a fire located within said chamber but always out trays, then causing currents of contact with such bodies to pass through such chamber and into'contact with the material and forcing or drawing such currents and the vapors extracted from the bodies out of such chamber, substantially as described.

7. The process of treating coals, shales, lignites and other carbonaceous substances so that a. portion of their constituents may be converted into volatile hydrocarbonaceous oils, which consists in dividing a charge of the substance to be treated into relatively small bodies by spreading the same in layers on a series of superposed perforated or open-mesh trays confined'in a substantially air-tight chamber with spaces between such of high temperature inert gases from a fire within such chamber but always out of contact with such bodies to first pass into. contact with the material on the upper tray and then successively downward through such trays,

which consists in dividing a charge ofthe substance to be treated into relatively.

thereby to sweep the vapors of oils and waxes and other volatile products extracted from the material away from the point Y v. where they are developed, and then out of I the chamber into a condenser, substantially as described.

8. The process of treating coals, shales,-

lignites and other carbonaceous substances so that a portion of their constituents maybe converted into volatile hydrocarbonaceous oils, which consists in placing the substance to be treated in a carrier chamber open at its top and bottom and inclosed in a substantially air-tight chamber having therein fire contiguous to such carrier chamber but always out of contact with such substance, and leading currents of high temperature inert gases from such fire to the top of such carrier chamber and downward through the same and the material to be treated therein and drawing such currents and vapors from the carrier chamber at the bottom thereof, substantially as described.

9. The process of treating coals, shales, lignites and other carbonaceous substances so that a portion of their constituents may be converted into volatile hydrocarbonaceous oils, which consists in placing the substance to be treated in a chamber inclosed in a substantially air-tight chamber having between said chambers fires contiguous to the inner chamber but always out of contact with such substance, then leading currents of high temperature inert gases from such fires into the inner chamber at one part thereof and through the same and the material to be treated, and then drawing the vapors and currents of inert gases out of such chamber at another part thereof. a

10. The process of treating coals, shales, lignites and other carbonaceous substances so that a portion of their constituents may be converted into volatile hydrocarbonaceous oils, which consists in placing the substance to be treated in superposed spaced apart layers supported on perforated or open-mesh trays in a removable chamber inclosed in a substantially air-tight chamber having between said chambers fires contiguous to the inner chambers but always out of contact with such substance, then leading currents of high temperature in ert gases from such fires into the inner chamber at one part thereof and through the same and the material to be treated, and then drawing the vapors and currents of inert gases out of such chamber at another part thereof, substantially as described.

11. The process of educting hydrocar bonaceous substances, which consists in locating a charge thereof within a removable chamber aeonfined within a substantially I air-tight chamber, then causing currents of a deoxidized gas obtained from a fire located externally of the inner removable chamber but internally of the outer chamber to pass in contact with such charge when heated to a point below incandescence to effect the eduction thereof, substantially as described.

12. The process of educing hydrocarbonaceous substances, which consists in locating a charge thereof within a removable chamber confined within a substantially air-tight chamber, the-n causing currents of a deoxidized gas obtained from a fire located externally of the inner removable chamber but internally of the outer chamber to pass in contact with such charge when heated to a point below incandescence to effect the eduction thereof, and using the incondensable gases obtained from such charge for supplying such fire, substantially as' described.

13. The process of educing hydrocarbonaceous substances, which consists in confining a charge thereof in a substantially air-tight chamber, and then causing currents of a deoxidized gas to pass in contact with such charge, thereby to effect the eduction thereof, and utilizing the incondensable gases obtained from such charge for supplying the fire from which such deoxidized gas is obtained, substantially as described.

14. The process of treating coals, shales, lignites and other carbonaceous substances so that a portion of their constituents may be converted into volatile hydrocarbonaceous oils, which consists in placlng the charge of the substance to be treated upon superposed spaced trays having open-mesh bottoms, the open portions thereof being of greater area than the remainder of the bottom, and then subjecting the material to the action of free moving currents of high temperature inert gases and drawing or forcing the same through such layers, substantially as described.

15. The process of treating coals, shales, lignites and other carbonaceous substances so that a portion of their constituents may be converted into volatile hydrocarbonaceous oils, which consists in confining the charge to be treated in a substantially airtight chamber and subjecting it to a preliminary heating operation, then transferring the charge to another substantially air-tight chamber and subjecting it to high temperature inert gases, and conveying from such chamber such gases and the vapors extracted from the charge, substantially as described. Y-

16. The process oftreating coals shales, lignites and other carbonaceous su stances so that a portion of their constituents may be converted into volatile hydrocarbonaceous oils, which consists in confin thereof in separated layers on perforated ing a charge or open-bottom trays in a preliminary heating chamber, then conveying such charge in separated layers to an eduction chamber and further heating the same from a fire within the chamber but out of contact with such charge, and conveying therefrom the "apors extracted from the charge, substantially as described.

17. The process of treating coals, shales, lignites and other carbonaceous substances so that a portion of their constituents may.

charge thereof in separated layers supported by open-bottom trays in a substantially air-tight chamber and heating the same, and conveying away from suchchamber the vapors extracted from the charge, and then conveying the separated layers of the charge to a cooling chamber, substantially as de scribed.

19. The process of treating coals, shales, lignites and other carbonaceous substances so that a portion of their constituents may be converted into volatile hydrocarbonaceous oils, which consists in confining the charge to be treated in a substantially air-tight chamber and subjecting it to a reliminary heating operation, then transferring the charge to another substantially air-tight chamber and subjecting it to high temperature inert gases, conveying from such chamber such gases and the vapors extract ed from the charge, and then conveying the residual material to a cooling chamber, substantially as described.

20. The process of treating coals, shales, lignites and other carbonaceous substances so that a portion of their constituents may be converted into volatile hydrocarbonaceous oils, which consists in confining a charge thereof in separated layers in a preliminary. heating chamber, then conveying such char e in separated layers to an eduction cham er and further heating the same and conveying therefrom the vapors extracted from the charge, and then conveying the;

separated layers to a cooling chamber, substantially as described.

21. The process of treating coals, shales, lignites and other carbonaceous substances so that a portionof their constituents may be converted into volatile hydrocarbonaceous oils, which consists in first heating to a predetermined temperature in one chamber the charge separated into. a plurality of bodies or layers superposed one above another on perforated or open-mesh trays, then heating such superposed bodies to a higher temperature in another chamber and extracting and conveying therefrom the vapors to be condensed, and then cooling the superposed layers in another chamber and condensing the vapors extracted from the charge during the heating thereof in the tiguous to but out .of contact with the charge, and then cooling the superposed layers in another chamber and condensing the vapors extracted from the charge during the heating thereof in the second heating chamber.

23. The process of treating coals, shales, lignites and other carbonaceous substances so that a portion of their constituents may be converted into volatile hydrocarbonaceous oils, which consists in first heating to a predetermined temperature in one chamber the charge separated into a plurality of bodies or layers superposed one above another on open bottom trays, each of such trays having the open portions of-its bottom of greater area than the remainder of the bottom, then heating suchsuperposed bodies to a higher temperature in another chamber and extracting and conveying therefrom the vapor's to be condensed, and then cooling the superposed layers in another chamber.

JOHN 1). sco'r'r.

Witnesses EDWIN R. FORD, CHARLES H. HARRISON, Jr. 

